August 15, 2012

Patton Boggs to Lobby for Facebook

Updated at 5:32 p.m.

Facebook Inc. has signed on with a former U.S. Federal Communications Commission chairman and other Patton Boggs lobbyists.

Patton Boggs disclosed to Congress on Tuesday that firm partner Kevin Martin, the FCC chairman from 2005 to 2009, as well as partner Jeffrey Turner and senior public policy adviser Emanuel Rossman, are lobbying for the social network. They are focusing on matters concerning "technology and internet policy, including personal privacy, protecting children, advancing online security, and tax policy issues," according to a lobbying registration report the law firm filed with the U.S. House of Representatives.

Andrew Noyes, a Facebook spokesman, declined to comment. The lobbyists couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Facebook spent $1.61 million on federal lobbying during the first half of this year, according to congressional records. The social network deploys its own employees and lobbyists from Steptoe & Johnson LLP; Elmendorf Ryan; Peck, Madigan, Jones & Stewart; and Stewart Strategies and Solutions to advocate for it in Washington.

The firms this year primarily have lobbied for Facebook on cybersecurity and privacy matters, including the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act that passed the House in April. Facebook has drawn criticism for its support of the cybersecurity legislation that critics say is a threat to online privacy.